Writing at the Frank Waters' Foundation
Right now, I use about 2 gallons of water for coffee and making meals and clean up, and I guess about ten gallons of water with each shower. So my total impact in terms of water use is 54 gallons of water per week. That seems like a lot if you think about 54 gallon jugs stretched across the floor. Hmmm.
The writer's life here is stupendous. Though I am lonely and find I go to town every other day in the afternoon's for mail (the PO forwarded my mail to Taos, not Arroyo Seco, a real pain in the b...), research at the library and exploring new places, I am still putting in about 5-8 hours of writing per day. To date I have completed the first two parts of a four-part book, already well into part three.
I have explored just about every road or lane on El Salto Road, and Sunday I hiked to a waterfall that gushes from clefts in the rock face of the mountain; I met a lot of nice people and dogs on the way and back, checked on the llamas, sheep and horses that graze in various yards and homesteads along the way. Every king of flowering or fruiting schrub or tree is loaded with sweet fruits. The birds literally hang on the chokecherry bushes and gorge themselves.
Another plus is the Taos Farmers' Market on Saturdays. Farmers and family gardeners are bringing the most luscious tomatoes, peppers, greens of all kind and chilis from Hatch,NM - all accompanied by local musicians on guitar and violin.
The Book : The story is evolving in ways I did not imagine as I prepared for the residency. While I started the novel in Tucson, it has wandered to Yuma! Another unforseen element for me personally is my soul-searching about whether the novel will be interesting to my readers (whom I imagine will be people interested in a humorous, regionalized story about how human beings manage to survive world-wide climate change.)
A complete plus on this residency is the existence of a socially-responsible radio station out of Alamosa, Colorado which has afforded me continuous programming on pertinent discussions for this book. Point in mind: this morning's discussion by Senator Pete Domenici of NM about the upcoming and highly provacative detonation of new generation of bunker-busters at the White Sands missile range. This is a state, you will remember, that was the testing grounds for the first atomic bomb. Many residents fear these bombs may have limited nuclear heads. Clearly, there is mistrust among citizens who have often been unwilling recipients of fall-out and other environmental impacts of government activities.
For now, I am trying to stay focused on incorporating into my characters' lives and struggles the emergence of a new way of thinking about business, a bioregional approach to providing water, power and food to residents. Tim Flanary's book, The Weather Makers, had helped considerably, as well as Jarod Diamond's Collapse, E.F. Schumacher's Good Work, and E.O. Wilson's new book, Creation.
I ordered David Korten's The Great Turning, yesterday which I believe states the premise of my book: the old capitalist economy will go as it destroys the capability of human life to endure on Earth and is, and always was, undemocratic in both form and outcomes, replaced by a much wiser form of social democracy based on bioregionalism and richer forms of democratic relationships among entrepreurs, government and citizens.
I am very grateful to all of you who read this blog and offer ideas and feedback. Most are coming to my email, but I would appreciate if you would comment here as well so that others can learn from your ideas.
Till next week,
Susan
